"It's useless,” Macy said, flopping down on the edge of the bed. Sean shifted and turned to look at her. “Mom is determined to do this regardless of what I say. She's even called that preacher, Tim, to perform the ceremony."
"So the whining didn't work then?” he asked, sitting up and leaning back against the headboard.
She rolled her eyes at him and said, “No. No matter what I said, she had a quick answer for me. She's going to do this regardless of what I say."
"What about the marriage license? Did you mention that?"
"No. In all their careful planning they've completely forgotten about that little detail and I was scared if I mentioned it they'd hustle us into town to get one."
"Hmm,” he said. “Good idea. Don't mention it then. If they've forgotten hopefully it'll be too late to do anything about it by the time this wedding is supposed to take place.” He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to look at her. “By the way, when is our big day?"
Macy looked at him and scowled. “Don't smile at me like that, Sean. You're in just as much trouble here as I am, you know."
"I know,” he said. “But come on, you have to admit it's pretty funny."
"In what bizarre world would this be funny?"
He laughed and said, “The one where you named me as your live-in boyfriend. A make-believe boyfriend who asked you to marry him and is now going to have to do exactly that."
She hung her head and groaned. “You're going to hate me when this is all over, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not going to hate you,” he said, leaning forward and running his hand over her head. “Come on. We're in this together, remember?"
She sighed and sat back up. “Yeah. I know."
"Well, stop worrying so much. It'll end up all right. I promise. Once this farce wedding starts, I'll conveniently remember the marriage license and that'll be the end of it. We can't have a wedding without that little piece of paper and luckily for us, no one but us has even thought of it."
Macy nodded her head and stood, walking to her closet. She opened the door and pushed the clothes stored there away, revealing an assortment of gowns.
"What are you doing?"
She turned and gave him a peeved look. “Mom sent me up here to go through my old formal gowns. She said, and I quote, ‘As many dresses as we've bought for you over the years, Macy, I'm sure you have something suitable to wear for your wedding day.’”
"Formal dresses?"
She nodded and blushed, ducking back into the closet. “I uh, used to do a lot of pageants when I was a teen."
"Pageants? As in beauty pageants?” Another nod of her head was all he got in return. He grinned and crawled off the bed and crossed the room, stopping behind her. “You mean to tell me I'm marrying a beauty queen?"
She laughed. “Stop teasing me, Sean."
"I'm not teasing."
"Yes you are,” she said, pulling a pale ivory dress from the closet. It was strapless and looked low cut. And small. Sean grinned while looking at it. “This one will have to do."
"I like that one. What pageant did you wear it in?"
"The Miss Ashville pageant."
He grinned when she blushed again. “Did you win?"
"I was first runner up."
"Ah, so I am marrying a beauty queen. I think I like that idea."
"You're a twisted man, Sean Mathis.” She tucked the dress under one arm and walked to the door. “Get dressed,” she said. “Derek is waiting in his room for you. It's time for you to find suitable attire for our big day."
"Which is when?"
She grimaced and opened the door. “Christmas Eve.” She left without another word. Sean stared at the door for long minutes before walking back to the bed and sitting down.
He lied when he told her everything would be all right. He didn't want to worry her more than she was but he was seriously worried. They had no choice but to go ahead with the wedding idea or reveal their little lie to her family and neither of them wanted that. He wouldn't let her take the blame for it alone but he didn't want to incur her family's wrath either when they found out they'd been lied to. He wasn't sure how they'd react. Well, he could imagine how they'd react. With wicked left hooks and head jarring punches. He sighed and looked around Macy's room. It was pink with every frill a young girl could want. He smiled while looking at the things scattered on the dressers. Pictures of her and friends, a pair of cheerleading pom-poms tossed into the chair by the window and awards for this and that hung on the walls.
He was ashamed to say he didn't know very much about her. In the three years he'd known her, he hadn't asked. Asking would mean he cared and letting her know he cared was dangerous. For him and her. Admitting he cared even to himself was dangerous but he had to face it. He did. He cared more than he should. Especially after spending the week with her, getting to know her and her family. He knew what made her laugh now. What made her sad. He also knew what made her gasp in pleasure and cling to him like she never wanted to let him go. It also made him think things he shouldn't. Things that would get his heart broken in the process. He had no idea of her feelings for him. Did she see him as just her boss or more? Was their one night together just that? One night of drunken bliss? Or was it more? Could it lead to more? Did he want it to?
He didn't even have to think on that one. He did. Seeing her smile made him happy. Seeing her smile at him made his pulse race. She'd asked him what happened when they went home and he'd said he didn't know. He knew now. He wasn't ready to give her up. It wasn't the alcohol talking when he said he wanted her. He was sober now and he still wanted her. Wanted it all. The smiles, the laughs and the gasps. The way her hand felt in his, the way her body felt snuggled into his side. He wanted her. The question was, when all of this was over and the lies came out, would there be enough left for her to give him?
Macy felt sick. Her head was throbbing and her stomach was queasy. Her mother said it was just nerves and she was probably right but that didn't stop her lunch from trying to come back up.
She was sitting at her mother's vanity getting her hair curled while her sister-in-laws reported on the goings on downstairs. Apparently the preacher had arrived. Macy inhaled deeply, willing her stomach to settle. She couldn't believe they'd come this far in their plan for it all to backfire in their faces. A wedding. Their tiny fib was now a monstrous lie that had grown two heads and was still growing. She was preparing for a wedding that shouldn't be taking place. How did everything get so out of control?
"Sean looks amazing, Macy,” Pam said, smiling. “And he looks as nervous as you do."
"I'm sure he is,” Macy mumbled. She glanced into the mirror, looking at Pam before forcing a smile onto her face.
"He's pacing the living room talking to himself. I don't even think Bruce was as nervous as Sean seems to be."
Bruce actually wanted to marry you, Macy thought, before sighing. And that piece of knowledge was the hardest of all to swallow. She'd been half in love with Sean before he even agreed to come to the mountains with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. Now, a week later, she knew she'd be miserable when he was no longer there. How was she supposed to go back to work and pretend this week didn't happen? Pretend Sean's kisses hadn't made her toes curl up and caused her heart to race uncontrollably. To pretend their one night together meant nothing when it meant everything. One night of bliss spent with a man she'd give anything to have forever. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized this was her ultimate fantasy where Sean was concerned. To be fussed over by her family while he waited at the altar for her. Only in her dream, he loved her back.
"Oh, she's crying."
Macy looked up at Pam when she spoke and smiled before wiping the tears from her cheeks. “I'm fine,” she lied. “Everything's just happening too fast, I guess."
"Are you sure that's all it is, Macy?” her mother asked.
Macy nodded and grabbed her mother's hand. “Yeah. I'm just a bit emotional, is all."
Rose smiled before placing the last pin in her hair. “Well, that's to be expected,” she said. “A woman's wedding day is always an emotional roller coaster. All those doubts and fears come into play and give us all sorts of crazy ideas.” She laughed before shaking her head. “The day I married your father, I ran like the hounds of hell were after me minutes before the ceremony started."
"You did?” Macy asked, shocked.
"I sure did,” Rose said. “I got scared and ran out of the church. It took your grandfather two blocks to catch me."
Macy laughed. “I can't imagine grandpa running after anything."
"Well he did. He said he'd already paid for everything and I was going to marry your father or else.” Rose stepped to the bed and grabbed the veil she'd worn at her own wedding and placed it on Macy's head before smiling. “Of course, as you can see, I did marry him. The minute I reached that altar and looked into his face, the fear left me. I knew then that I'd spend the rest of my life with him."
Macy smiled as her mother retold her the story and thought of her own wedding. Wouldn't this be something to tell her future children? How she lied to her parents and had a fake wedding. Pushing the thought away she looked into the mirror when her mother said she was finished.
The girl looking back at her was one she barely recognized. Her hair was pulled into a loose upsweep with small curls framing her face. The veil fell past her shoulders and the string of pearls her mother gave her completed the look. She looked lovely, even if she said so herself. She just wished her mood would match how she looked. If any of them knew how awful she felt…
She looked up at her mother and, seeing her deep frown, forced a smile onto her own face. “Thanks, momma,” she said. “It looks great."
"That it does,” Rose said. “I don't think I've ever seen a prettier bride."
"And Sean will think the same thing,” Pam said. “Now lets go. Everyone is ready!"
Macy stood and smoothed down the front of her dress. Her legs started shaking the moment she started for the door. Would she be able to get through this until they dropped their big bombshell? She just hoped her family wouldn't be too disappointed when they realized they forgot the most important thing in their wedding preparations. The marriage license.
Her father was waiting for her at the top of the stairs. She smiled at him when he held his arm out to her and the music started moments later. She glanced down into the living room, her gaze finding Sean's. He was staring at her with a tiny smile lifting the corner of his mouth. Pam was right. He did look amazing. The dark suit her brother had loaned him made him look very distinguished.
The butterflies started darting in erratic patterns in her stomach again. She took a cleansing breath as they started down the steps. When they reached the bottom and walked into the living room and to the fireplace where Sean and the preacher were waiting, she was amazed she hadn't fallen. Her legs were still shaking.
"Don't look so nervous,” the preacher said. “This is the easy part."
She smiled in spite of the fact he was wrong. This wasn't the easy part. This was the hardest part of all. This was the part where everything teetered on the brink of disaster. This was the part where two years of pathetic lying would catch up to her and set into motion a chain of events that would out her for the conniving little liar she really was.
Her father placed her hand in Sean's and she looked up at him. He smiled before squeezing her hand. She was glad he seemed so calm. He looked happy, actually. His smile wasn't forced and to all appearances, he looked… content. She inhaled deeply and let it out in a gush of nervous jitters. His hold on her hand tightened.
"Let's get started,” the preacher said. He straightened his shoulders. “Friends, family, we're gathered here today to join Macy and Sean on this most joyous day. In the years they've been together their love has grown and matured and they've now decided to make their commitment to one another as husband and wife.” He smiled before asking, “Who gives this woman in marriage?"
"Her mother and I,” her father said. He smiled and kissed her cheek before turning and walking to the other side of the room where her mother stood. Macy watched them smile at her before turning back to the preacher.
He talked for long minutes, telling them the definition of a true marriage and the seriousness of the vows they would take. His words were like a slap to the face. She glanced at Sean again and noticed he was watching her. The look on his face puzzled her. He didn't look nervous at all. He looked… well, pretty calm for a man who was about to marry a girl he wasn't in love with. What was he thinking? Was he waiting for the right moment to say something about the license? Was he waiting for her to say something instead? When should she do it? Should she wait a bit longer or stop the wedding now? How far should she let them get? The vows? The rings? She gasped lightly when she remembered the rings and felt a small burst of hope. “Rings!” she yelled and turned to look at Sean. “We don't have any rings, Sean!"
The commotion in the room grew by the second and she turned to look at her family. They were smiling. Why were they all smiling? Her grandmother stood from her chair and cross the room, her purse clutched to her stomach. When she reached them, she opened her bag, digging around inside the black leather before producing a ring box. Macy's eyes widened when her grandmother opened the lid.
"These belonged to your grandfather and I,” she said. “I want you to have them."
Macy opened her mouth three times before she could get the words to come out. “I can't take those, grandma."
"Sure you can. Your grandfather has been gone for a long time now. I'm sure he would love to know you were wearing our wedding rings."
Macy stared at the two plain gold bands before looking back up at Sean. His gaze was darting around the room. He didn't look quite so calm now. Her panic must have finally rubbed off on him. His hand tightened around hers for a moment before his eyes widened a bit. “We forgot the marriage license, too,” he said.
"What?” Macy gasped, playing along. Turning her head to her mother, she stared at her, gaping. “Mom! How could we have forgotten something so important as rings and a marriage license?” Her heart was going to bust out of her chest any minute now. She was dizzy as the adrenaline pumped through her veins and she hoped for this sham to be over quickly. When her mother laughed and shook her head, Macy could only stare.
"Macy, calm down,” Rose said. “We didn't forget anything. Your grandmother offered the rings days ago. It was actually her idea for you to have them. The boys told me Sean had forgotten your engagement ring and when we decided you'd get married here, Grandma Avery offered her rings to us then. Lucky for us, she's had those rings in her purse since the day your grandfather died."
"Oh.” Macy deflated a bit, looking at her grandmother's face. She looked excited and still held the ring box out to her. Macy took the box, closing her fingers around it before looking down at the rings. They were simple gold bands but had spent over fifty years on her grandparents’ fingers. Refusing them would hurt her grandmother more than having to take it from her dead grandfather's hand. She smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Grandma. I'll cherish them always."
When her Grandma walked back across the room and sat down, Macy stared at her family. “We have rings but we still don't have the license."
"Sure we do,” Bruce said. “I picked it up yesterday."
Macy's eyes widened. “Huh?"
Bruce grinned and wrapped his arm around Pam's shoulder. “I went to town yesterday and got it."
"But…” Macy blinked at him and shook her head. “You couldn't have,” she said. “We didn't sign for a marriage license."
Bruce's face reddened a bit. “Well, that was a small technicality,” he said. “Luckily for me, Faye Robinson is the clerk of court."
"Faye Robinson?"
"Yeah. You might have been too young to remember her but I dated her back in high school. Anyway, we're still friends and when I told her what we needed, she was more than happy to help out."
Macy looked at Sean. He was watching Bruce with an unreadable look on his face. He must have felt as flummoxed as she did.
"How did you get a marriage license without our signature?” Sean asked.
"Easy,” Bruce said. “We fibbed on the paperwork."
"You fibbed?” Macy asked, incredulous. “You mean you lied? That's illegal, Bruce!"
"So? I have the license. It's been entered into the registry. It just needs your and Sean's signature's to make it legal."
Macy floundered like a fish, her mouth opening and closing several times before she turned to look at Sean. He was still watching her family. “Sean,” she whispered. “What do we do now?"
He looked down at her for long moments, his gaze boring into hers before he smiled. “Well, we tell them the truth… or, you can marry me."
Macy stared at him, speechless. Had he really said what she thought he did? He raised his hand and cupped her face in his palm before smiling. “When you told me about your problem a week ago, I helped you because I wanted to,” he said. “I came up here knowing that I'd get to spend a week pretending to be something I couldn't ever be. Something I was too old to even dream about being."
"You're not old, Sean."
He smiled again. “I'm a lot older than you, Macy. You're young and beautiful and I'm… well, I'm just me. A veterinarian who is creeping closer to forty with every new year."
"I've never thought you were too old for me,” she said.
He shrugged a shoulder and glanced around the room. “Being here with your family has been the best holiday I've had in years,” he said, looking back down at her. “Even with all the problems, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I certainly wouldn't trade what I've been able to share with you. I didn't lie when I asked you to marry me. I did want you the first time I saw you.” He grew quiet for long moments before whispering, “I still want you, Macy.” He smiled, his palm on her cheek moving to cup her chin. “I'm in love with you. I've never been as happy as I've been this week and that's all because of you. Marry me. Be my wife."
Macy couldn't breathe. She stared up at Sean until tears clouded her vision and he became blurry. “You really want to marry me?"
"Yes. More than anything in the world."
"What will people back home say?"
He grinned. “Who cares,” he said. “If they ask, we'll just blame it on the mistletoe."
Macy laughed and blinked the tears away. “You really want to marry me?"
"For the second time, yes,” he said, grinning. “Do I have to get down on one knee and ask you again? I will if that's what it takes."
He wanted to marry her? Sean was in love with her and wanted to marry her? Macy grinned before throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. “I love you,” she said, when she pulled away.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes,” she said. “I'd love to marry you, Sean."
"The kissing is supposed to come last,” Matt yelled, earning laughs from her family. Macy glanced over at them and smiled before looking back at the preacher. “Can you make this quick,” she said. “We've wasted enough time as it is."
"Yes, Ma'am,” he said, grinning. “One wedding ceremony, coming right up!"
When their vows had been spoken, her grandparents’ rings in place on their fingers, and the preacher announced them as man and wife, Macy stared up at Sean, her husband, and knew that every Christmas from that day forward would remind her of this day. The day the man she loved proposed to her and married her under the magical spell of the mistletoe.